Rhea County Football Wins over Knoxcille Carter

August 25, 2019

Evensville, TN -- Rhea County High School Football opened the season in good fashion with a convincing 42-6 win over visiting Knoxville Carter on Friday night as nice sized crowd braved the threat of rain for the game. Fortunately the rain tailed off and game was essentially rain free.

Before the game, coach Gene Douglas(honorary captain for the game), who coached in Rhea County system for 22 years and served the Rhea County school system for 34 years received recognition with plaque from Rhea County High School principal Jessee Messimer with family by his side.

Serving as captains for the Eagles were Bradley Goodwin, Jacob Stringfellow, Kyle Carr and Jackson Langley.

Starting lineup Rhea County defense: line: Justin Woody, 72, Jaylee Elsea 57, Jacob Stringfellow 51, Jadden Pankey 2, Gavin Roddy 5, Dillon Reed 29, Drew Fisher 44, Avery Alday 35, Bradley Goodwin 40, Sir Alloway27, Destin Shelfer16

Starting lineup Rhea County offense: Kyle Carr 9, Taylor Cowley 37, Jackson Langley 23, Dalton Hampton 21, Ryan Young 26, Eli Johnson 33, Ethan McConnell 63, Jacob Stringfellow 51, Asa Patton 54, Caleb Stampe 53, and Brandon Creek 75.

The Rhea County rushing attack was powerful and very effective. Jackson Langley and Dalton Hampton did the bulk of the rushing and each had good games. Jackson Langley rushed for 133 yards on 14 carries and Dalton Hampton rushed for 115 yards on 12 carries. Together the two averaged almost 10 yards a carry. Ryan Young was also in double figures for carries with 10 and ground out 54 yards. Team total was 343 yards on 43 carries.

Rhea County began slowly and early interception and return gave Carter possession inside Eagles territory at the 45 yard line, but penalty on return took ball back to 32 yard line of Carter. Hornets moved the ball to their own 48 before punting. They did get one first down on the drive.

On their second drive on the night, the Eagles began on their own 23 yard line. Jackson Langley had runs of 24, 12, and another 12 yard run for the touchdown. Hampton and Young ran for the other 29 yards in the drive. Saul Ochoa was successful on kick for 7-0 lead at the 4:13 mark to complete the 3 minute and 4 second drive.

Hornets began play on their 35 yard line after the kickoff by Ochoa. Eagles dodged a bullet as Hornets' Kenneth Cox took the ball around the end and into end zone, but penalty cost the Hornets the touchdown. Eagles had the Hornets stopped for fourth down, but hit out of bounds gave the Hornets new life at the 48 of Rhea County. A couple of good runs were negated by an illegal block to move the ball back and Hornets had to punt again. Several Eagles contributed with tackles including Alloway, Elsea and Goodwin. Eight different rushers carried the ball for the Eagles.

Cowley fielded the punt at Rhea County 32 and drive was underway. Langley took the ball to 39 as first quarter ended with Eagles up 7-0, Hampton took off around end for a 59 yard touchdown with 11:07 left in second quarter for 13-0 lead and Ochoa kick pushed margine to 14-0.

Ochoa kicked into end zone and Carter began on their 20 yard line and Eagle shutdown the offense, forcing a punt, which settled down on the Hornet 32 yard line to setup Eagles with time running out in second quarter(58 seconds).

Hampton lost a nice 16 yard run on penalty and a behind scenes tackle put the Eagles back to Hornet 27 yard line and time was running out.

A penalty on punt gave the Eagles first down at the 19 of Carter. Penalty cost Eagle a shot inside the 3 yard line and they eventually turned ball over on downs at the Hornet 27. Hornets quickly moved the ball down the field on Cox run of 53 yards before Jadden Pankey made touchdown saving tacking on the 20 of the Eagles. Hornets did make the 20 yard jaunt into endzone to pull within 14-6, on Davidson touchdown, but Goodwin blocked the extra point to keep margin at 14-6 with 2:53 left in first half.

Gavin Roddy had nice return from the 20 up to 49 to setup Eagles for possible late score as half approached. With time running down and the offense stalled at near midfield, Jackson Langley changed the picture with huge run down to the 14 yard line thanks to big springing block by Ethan McConnel that allowed Jackson a hole and he quickly darted downfield for the 35 yard gain. Langley finished with 14 yard run for touchdown on next play and Ochoa kick made the margin 21-6 with 58.8 second left in half.

Nice deep kickoff by Ochoa and great coverage put Carter at their 10 yard line with little time on the clock. Proper clock management and great defense setup a inprobable late touchdown.

Hornets punted from their 6 yard line and ball landed around the 15 yard line to setup Eagles with touchdown opportunity with 28 seconds on the clock. Hampton snuck out of the backfield and Carr found him with pass to move ball down to 2 yard line with second left in half. It was Langley traveling the last two yards for touchdown. Ochoa added the extra point and halftime score stodd at 28-6.

Carter received kickoff and moved the ball down to Eagle 30 before a bad snap took ball back to 44 and forced a punt which setup Eagles at the 15 yard line with 8:53 left in third quarter.

Hampton put 13 yards on board with two carries to give Eagles first down at the 28 yard line before Young busted up middle for another first down at the 40 yard line. Later in drive Goodwin had a nice gain down to Hornets' 34 yard line for another first down and followed with run down to 26. Hampton took the ball down to the 18 yard line. Alday came within a shoelace of scoring and Carr scored the 34th point on the keeper. Ochoa extra point put score at 35-6 with 2:51 left in third quarter.

Rhea County held Carter without first down and took punt at midfield. As the game entered the fourth quarter, Young had nice run and then Langley broke off a 15 yard run to put the Eagles in nice position at the 23 yard line. Boo Young finished the drive off with nice up the gut run of 23 yards for the apparent touchdown but flag brought ball back to 21 yard line. Young ripped off a ten yard run and then found the end zone with three yard run after Langley had put the ball on the 3 yard line on previous run. Kick sailed through and Eagles were up 42-6 with 9:13 on clock, which would be the final score.

Drew Fisher came up with fumble to end the next Carter possession at the Carter 26 yard line. Rhea County tried a field goal that fell short and game ended 42-6.

Jackson Langley had 18 points to lead all scorers. Kyle Carr, Dalton Hampton and Ryan Young alos had a touchdown each and Ochoa had the other six points, going 6 for 6 on extra points.

Bradley Goodwin led Eagles with seven tackles and four assisted tackles. Sir Alloway and Avery Alday each had five tackles and three assists. Rhea County held Carter to 17 yards passing and 149 yards on the ground on 33 carries.

Rhea County had 16 first downs and Carter 7. Rhea County had 6 penalties for 60 yards and Carter totaled 105 yards in penalty yardage on 12 penalties. Rhea County gave up one interception. Carter had a fumble and a kick blocked. Rhea County did not punt in the game.

Rhea County will stay at home for game number two with game against Tuscola with 7:30 pm kickoff time scheduled.